Lithium cell with cathode containing iron disulfide

Abstract

A primary cell having an anode comprising lithium and a cathode comprising iron disulfide (FeS2) and carbon particles. The electrolyte comprises a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent mixture which contains 1,3-dioxolane and preferably 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone. A cathode slurry is prepared comprising iron disulfide powder, carbon, binder, and a liquid solvent. The mixture is coated onto a conductive substrate and solvent evaporated leaving a dry cathode coating on the substrate. The anode and cathode can be spirally wound with separator therebetween and inserted into the cell casing with electrolyte then added.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to lithium cells having an anode comprising lithium and a cathode comprising iron disulfide and an electrolyte comprising a lithium salt, preferably lithium iodide and solvent which includes 1,3-dioxolane and 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone.BACKGROUND[0002]Primary (non-rechargeable) electrochemical cells having an anode of lithium are known and are in widespread commercial use. The anode is comprised essentially of lithium metal. Such cells typically have a cathode comprising manganese dioxide, and electrolyte comprising a lithium salt such as lithium trifluoromethane sulfonate (LiCF3SO3) dissolved in an organic solvent. The cells are referenced in the art as primary lithium cells (primary Li / MnO2 cells) and are generally not intended to be rechargeable. Alternative, primary lithium cells with lithium metal anodes but having different cathodes, are also known. Such cells, for example, have cathodes comprising iron disulfide (FeS2) and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0027]The electrolyte mixture of the invention provides the electrochemical properties needed to allow efficient electrochemical discharge of the Li / FeS2 cell. In particular the electrolyte mixture of the invention provides the electrochemical properties needed to allow even high rate pulsed discharge demands of high power electronic devices such as digital cameras. Thus, an Li / FeS2 cell can be produced using the electrolyte mixture of the invention resulting as a suitable primary cell for use in a digital camera normally powered by rechargeable cell. Aside from exhibiting very good electrochemical properties which allows efficient discharge of the Li / FeS2 cell, the electrolyte solvent mixture of the invention has the advantage of having relatively low viscosity.

[0028]Applicants herein have determined that in a Li / FeS2 cell it is advantageous to have an electrolyte of low viscosity, between about 0.9 and 1.4 centipoise. The electrolyte of the invention comprising lithium iodide salt dissolved in a solvent mixture comprising 1,3-dioxolane (DX) and 1,3-dimethy-2-imidazolidinone (DID) has low viscosity between about 0.9 and 1.4 centipoise, typically between about 1.2 and 1.4 centipoise. Such low viscosity level helps to improve Li / FeS2 cell performance, because it promotes good lithium ion (Li+) transport between anode and cathode.

[0029]In order for the Li / FeS2 cell to discharge properly lithium ions from the anode must have enough ionic mobility enabling good transport across the separator and into the FeS2 cathode. At the cathode the lithium ions participate in the reduction reaction of sulfur ions producing LiS2 at the cathode. Electrolytes of low viscosity are highly desirable for the Li / FeS2 cell because 1) that it reduces lithium ion (Li+) concentration polarization within the electrolyte and 2) it promotes good lithium ion (Li+) transport mobility during discharge. In particular the low viscosity electrolyte for the Li / FeS2 cell reduces lithium ion concentration polarization and promotes better lithium ion transport from anode to cathode when the cell is discharged at high pulsed rate, for example, when the Li / FeS2 cell is used to power a digital camera. Lithium ion concentration polarization is reflected by the concentration gradient present between the Li anode and the FeS2 cathode as the lithium ion transports from anode to cathode. A low viscosity electrolyte for the Li / FeS2 cell reduces the lithium ion concentration buildup at the anode improving the lithium ion (Li+) mobility and in turn improving cell performance.

[0030]The electrolyte of the invention comprising lithium iodide salt dissolved in a solvent mixture comprising 1,3-dioxolane (DX) and 1,3-dimethy-2-imidazolidinone (DID) has the added advantage that it exhibits very good ionic conductivity, between about 8 and 11 S / cm (Siemens per centimeter), without causing any significant cell gassing. (1 S / cm=1 / p, wherein p is resistivity, ohm×cm.) The Li / FeS2 cell employing the electrolyte of the invention does not exhibit any significant cell gassing even when the cell is discharged under high power demands, for example, as required in digital cameras.

[0031]The electrolyte solvent mixture of the invention comprising 1,3-dioxolane (DX) and 1,3-dimethy-2-imidazolidinone (DID) has an advantage that it permits the use of lithium iodide salt in place of lithium salts such as lithium bistrifluoromethylsulfonyl imide, Li(CF3SO2)2N (LiTFSI), which is an effective lithium salt, but is far more expensive than lithium iodide.

Problems solved by technology

This is because undesirable oxidation / reduction reactions between the electrolyte and electrode materials (either discharged or undischarged) could thereby gradually contaminate the electrolyte and reduce its effectiveness or result in excessive gassing.

This in turn can result in a catastrophic cell failure.

The choice of a particular organic solvent or mixture of different organic solvents for use in conjunction with any one or more lithium salts to produce a suitable electrolyte for the Li / FeS2 cell is challenging.

But rather the challenge associated with such cells using an electrolyte formed with just any combination of known lithium salt and organic solvent is that the problems encountered will likely be very substantial, thus making the cell impractical for commercial usage.

Thus, references which merely provide long lists of possible organic solvents for Li / FeS2 cells do not necessarily teach combinations of solvents or combination of specific lithium salts in specific solvent mixtures, which exhibit particular or unexpected benefit.

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